Google has introduced a new feature on the iOS version of the Chrome browser, allowing users to rearrange the address bar on their iPhone screens. This functionality responds to users’ requests, acknowledging that preferences for the address bar’s location vary based on hand size and device dimensions.
The iOS Chrome app has also recently implemented a 1×1 home-screen widget enabling quick access to the Google Password Manager. Unlike its Android counterpart, the iOS version of Chrome exhibits a distinct layout. It presents the URL bar at the top and a bottom toolbar featuring navigation buttons like back/forward, New Tab, Tab Switcher, and a three-dot menu. A long press on the New Tab button provides additional options such as Lens, Incognito mode, and voice search. The overflow menu and Tab Grid vary in appearance compared to the Android version.
Resembling the post-iOS 15 Safari, merging the address bar with the toolbar on Chrome for iOS condenses the interface, eliminating the top display and enabling pull-to-refresh functionality.
For iPhone users to adjust the address bar’s positioning, a long-press on the URL bar unveils the “Move Address Bar to Bottom/Top” option. Additionally, users can navigate to Settings > Address Bar in Chrome 119 to modify the address bar’s location.
The introduction of a bottom-address bar by Chrome for iOS seems to be a response to Safari on the iPhone. User feedback on iPhones could influence Chrome’s Android version. This feature aims to enhance one-handed usability and accessibility.
Google previously experimented with different address bar positions in 2016 and then utilized the split toolbar approach (Chrome Duplex, previously Chrome Home) in 2018. However, these experiments were discontinued due to user opinions that found the redesign disorienting. Nonetheless, this recent addition on the iOS version could pave the way for changes in Chrome’s Android version.
